Despite the literal meaning, “fundraising” is about much more than simply raising funds. For me, it’s about stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s about showing care for someone or something outside yourself. It’s about human connection, and the understanding that most of us just want to make the world we live in a little better.
Stepping into my role at the Perkins recently, and consequently throwing myself head-first into fundraising campaigns like Tough Treks, has been a big step considering that at this point last year I had little motivation to go outside my house, let alone commit to three intense, challenging hikes with the goal of raising as much money as possible for medical research.
But good things tend to happen to you when you need them, and the renewed passion I have for life can partly be put down to the personal sense of satisfaction and achievement I have gained through activities like Tough Treks.
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Let it be said: the Perkins Tough Treks are not for the faint-hearted. As our guide explained on a crisp Saturday morning before we set off, the route we would be taking on is usually reserved for “extreme endurance tests.” With that powerful piece of inspiration, we embarked on a 25 kilometre (or 28, depending on who you ask) hike in and out of the Serpentine Valley.
Our group was an eclectic mix of philanthropically-minded hikers, from recent graduates to retirees. All of us had a strong sense of adventure from the start, as well as a keen interest in learning each other’s stories and reasons behind taking on the Trek. Perkins researchers Hanane Belhoul-Fakir and Kevin Pfleger joined us, and were only too happy to share insights from their research. They also explained how the money we’d raised goes to help researchers at the Perkins maintain the ever-important work they’re doing.
The camaraderie between everyone who took part was also a big motivator in driving us over those hills. The shared desire to make a difference in the lives of those who are affected by diseases like cancer, heart disease and rare genetic conditions, as well as their families and friends, made sure we were all on the same page. There’s also nothing like shared discomfort and struggle to bring a group together.
The spectacular scenery of the valley and surrounding area made the first half of the trek flow by, as well as the stories behind places like Kitty’s Gorge; any yarn involving a stuck cow and the lengths taken to retrieve her should be remembered for as long as possible.
I don’t want to draw too many comparisons to Band of Brothers, but it did at times feel like we were propping each other up like war-weary soldiers, especially towards the end. I don’t exactly know what “peak fitness” means, but I do know I can probably do with losing a couple of kilos before the next trek!
A specific mention has to go to our guides from Off the Beaten Track. The trio were more than just the ones who know the way; they actively took part in our conversations, helped those who needed helping and inspired us to keep going, while keeping us safe every step of the way.
In the end, the true reward is knowing we are making an impact in the fight against the world’s toughest diseases like cancer, heart diseases and rare genetic diseases, and the challenge we collectively took on is more than just an attempt to raise funds. It was a commitment to stepping outside of our comfort zones to make a positive difference. And it was one we will probably remember for a while: the 24 hours of pain after the return home were a stark enough reminder.
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I am 100 per cent glad, satisfied and proud of taking part in the first Tough Trek of 2025. And that may sound like boasting, but it’s not. After a few years of not really knowing my place in the world, and feeling lost because of it, the sense of purpose I am getting from things like the Tough Trek are invaluable. And potentially being able to make a difference in the lives of people I will probably never meet is a big part of that.
It has reminded me that no-one will tell you what to do with your life; it is up to you to find your path and then find enough strength and energy to stay on it. Sometimes that’s easy, when everything is going your way. But sometimes, when the odds are stacked against you and there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel, remembering why you’re here can be incredibly difficult.
It may seem backwards, but sometimes dragging yourself through an “extreme endurance” hike is exactly what you need to remind you of yourself. Of course, the impact being made in medical research is just as important, and I think the double-whammy of fundraising and personal development is what makes Perkins Tough Treks so special; not to mention the friends made along the way.
